Your favorite cleaner / hazardous solvent for metal prep?

[John Lindstrom]

This is a list of cleaners and hazardous solvents used to prepare metal for primer. Which is your favorite and why?

Alkaline solvents:
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Carbonate
Sodium Silicate
Orthosodium Silicate
Sodium Phosphate
Trisodium Phosphate


Detergents:
Household detergents

Petroleum solvents and Turpentine:
Acetone
Benzene
Carbon Tetrachloride
Cyclohexane
Epichlorohydrin
Ethyl Acetate
Ethanol
Ethylene Dichloride
Ethylenediamine
Furfuryl Alcohol
Methanol
Methylene Chloride
VM & P Naphtha
Perchloroethylene
Isopropyl Alcohol
Stoddard Solvent
Toluene
Trichloroethylene
Turpentine
Xylene

[Dan Epperly]

This is a list of cleaners and hazardous solvents used to prepare metal for primer. Which is your favorite and why?

Alkaline solvents:
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Carbonate
Sodium Silicate
Orthosodium Silicate
Sodium Phosphate
Trisodium Phosphate


Detergents:
Household detergents

Petroleum solvents and Turpentine:
Acetone
Benzene
Carbon Tetrachloride
Cyclohexane
Epichlorohydrin
Ethyl Acetate
Ethanol
Ethylene Dichloride
Ethylenediamine
Furfuryl Alcohol
Methanol
Methylene Chloride
VM & P Naphtha
Perchloroethylene
Isopropyl Alcohol
Stoddard Solvent
Toluene
Trichloroethylene
Turpentine
Xylene

I just wipe it down with this cleaner they sell at the paint shop. Epoxy will stick to anything, including skin.

[Alan Hall]

Really depends on the condition of the metal. If rusty, you need to remove the rust and then treat with something like "3M metal prep", an acid solution, sold at automotive paint stores. If really greasy something like Stoddard solvent will clean it up. Right before applying the paint I go over it with a final cleaner, again sold at automotive paint stores, different paint companies have their own versions with names like "final wash" or "fast evaporating cleaner".

[John Lindstrom]

For some reason I expected this thread to get more love.

[WilliamVaughan]

We don't respond because who knows what morally superior, self righteous, reader will not approve of our activities.

[John Lindstrom]

I never suggested that these would not be disposed of properly. If it’s legal to sell it, it’s legal to use it.